SERIES of LETTERS from a NoBLEMAN to his Son. A NE w EDITION, carefully corrected. VOL. III. L ONDON, A. HAMILTON, jun. Falcon-court, Fleet-treet. 1789, A general View of the Transactions of Europe, from the Death of Charles IX. in 1574, to the Acceffion of Henry IV. the first King of the Branch of Bourbon, to the Throne of France, in 1589; including the Rise of the Republic of Holland, the unhappy Catastrophe of Don Sebastian King of Portugal, the Execution of Mary Queen of Scots, and the Defeat of the He attempts to restore the royal authority by, acting as umpire between the Protestants and Catholics 1575 The king of Navarre places himself at the head of the protes- 1570 They obtain advantageous conditions 1577 Are threatened by the famous Catholic League, which is headed Phillip II. of Spain declares himself protector of that league ib. . The Flemish sea-adventurers make themselves masters of the The provinces of Holland and Zealand throw off the Spanish yoke ; and William prince of Orange, by forming the re- volted towns into a league, lays the foundation of the repub. The duke of Alva, repulsed before Alcmaer, petitions to be ibid. He is succeeded in the government of the Low Countries by Requesens, Commandator of Castile Middleburg taken by the Zealanders (A.D. 1574) ibid. ibid. 8 reduced to great distress, offer their fo. ibid. She rejects it, for political reasons The Spanish troops in the Netherlands matiny on the death of Don John of Austria, the new governor of the Low Countries, 1578 Queen Elizabeth engages to support the revolted provinces ib. Don John deposed by a decree of the States They are distracted by jealoufies and diffentions He is succeeded in the command of the Spanish army in the Netherlands by the famous Alexander Farnese, duke of Parma ibid. 1579 The UNION of the Seven Provinces signed at Utrecht ibid. 1380 The United Provinces finally withdraw their allegiance from ibid. The expedition of Don Sebastian, king of Portugal, to the His death ibid. 1581 Philip II. makes himself master of the kingdom of Portugal 15 1582 Attempt against the life of the prince of Orange He is opposed to the duke of Parma Distracted state of affairs in Scotland James, the young king, is made prisoner at Ruthven 1583 The Spaniards invade Ireland Account of the voyage of Sir Francis Drake 21 22 A.D. Page 1583 Plot against the life of Elizabeth 19 1584 It is discovered 20 Affaffination of William prince of Orange ibid, His fon Maurice elected Stadtholder The Duke of Parma invests Antwerp ibid. 1385 The citizens agree to acknowledge the authority of Philip Rapid decay of that city ibid. The United Provinces offer their sovereignty to Henry III. of France 23 He is obliged to reject it, on account of the distracted state of his kingdom ibid. Queen Elizabeth sends over an army of fix thousand men, un der the earl of Leicester, to the assistance of the States 24 And dispatches Sir Francis Drake, with a fleet of twenty fail to distress the Spaniards in the West Indies ibid. 1536 Success of Drake ibid. Misconduct of Leicester He is recalled ibid. Babington's conspiracy aganst the life of Elizabeth 26 Trial of Mary Queen of Scots ibid. Her fpirited defence 27 She is condemned to suffer death ibid. Examination of the evidence against her 28 1387 Affecting circumstances attending her execution 29 Her gallant behaviour ibid. Her character 30 Hypocritical forrow of Elizabeth ibid. James VI. king of Scotland seems determined to revenge the death of his moi her 31 He is induced to live on good terms with the court of Enge land ibid. Naval exploits of Drake and Cavendish 32 The failing of the Spanish Armada is retarded ibid. 1388 Philip II. makes new and great preparations for invading Eng. land 33 Naval and military force of Elizabeth 34 Undaunted courage of the English queen 35 The Spanish Armada fails ibid. Defeated by the English fleet, under the earl of Effingham and Sir Francis Drake 36 It is attacked by a violent form and wrecked on the western ifles of Scotland, and on the coast of Ireland 37 French Proteftants reduced to great distress by the powe power of the Catholic League ibid. Ambition of the second Duke of Guise 38 His violent death 39 thg A 3 |